Pipe-wrench



(No Model.)

W. S. GILMORE.

HPB WRENCH.

No. 566,678. Patented Aug. 25, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT fili-Enron.

"WINFIELD S. GILMORE, OF SORGHO, KENTUCKY.

PlPE-WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,678, dated August25, 1896.

Application tiled February 23, 1895. Serial No. 539,427. (N0 model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, VINFIELD S. GILMORE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sorgho, in the county of Daviess and State of Kentucky, haveinvented a new and useful Pipe-Wrench of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an improvement in pipe-wrenches, and refersparticularly to the subclass of chain-wrenches.

The object of the present invention is to simplify and improve theconstruction of wrenches of the character designated with a view to morethoroughly adapting them to engage with and operate upon pipes of widelydiierent diameters.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the courseof the subjoined description.

The invention consists in an improved pipewrench embodying certain novelfeatures and details of construction, whereby advantages in point ofsimplicity and adaptability are attained, as hereinafter fullydescribed, illustrated in the drawings, and iinally pointed out in theclaim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of animproved pipewrench constructed in accordance with this invention andshown applied in operative position upon a pipe. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the same, illustrating the adapta-bility of the wrench to apipe of relatively small diameter. Fig. 3 is also a side elevation ofthe wrench, illustrating the manner in which the same may be openedpreparatory to engaging the same with a pipe.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in theseveral gures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, l designates the handle of the wrench, whichmay be of any desired length, according to the desire of themanufacturer, the same having its outer operative end oppositelybeveled, reduced in thickness, and expanded in width, and also providedupon the outer edge of such expanded end with a straight series of cogs2, extending entirely across the head.

3 designates twin segmental plates, which are pivotally secured at theirinner ends to one corner of the expanded end of the handle l, and uponopposite sides thereof in such manner as to afford a space between saidtwin plates equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the endof the handle l.

Between the outer ends of the twin plates 3y is pivotally secured oneend of a segmental link 4, the opposite end thereof being formed with agroove or recess to receive the rounded tongue or tenon of a similarsegmental link 5. The opposite or outer end of the link 5 is also formedwith a tongue or tenon fitting pivotally within a groove or recess inone end of another segmental link 6, which constitutes the terminal linkof the chain. The links 4, 5, and 6 are all of segmental form and aresimilar also in respect to their inner faces, which are each providedwith ratchet-teeth, as shown. The links 5 and 6 differ, however, fromthe link 4, in that they are provided upon their exterior faces withcogs 7, which, when the links are folded around a pipe, are adapted tobe engaged by the cogs 2 on the operative extremity of the handle 1. Itwill be noted further that the links 4, 5, and 6 are pivotally united insuch manner and are of such thickness that both the terminal link 6 andthe link 5, next adjacent thereto, may be passed between thel twinsegmental plates 3 when the device is applied to a pipe of smalldiameter, as shown in Fig. 2.

In operation the links are folded around and caused to embrace a pipeand the extremity of the terminal link 6 introduced between thesegmental plates 3 and advanced until the several links rest in contactwith the exterior surface of the pipe, whereupon the handle lis vibratedin such manner as to cause the teeth or cogs thereof to engage with thecogs upon the outer surface of the terminal link G, or the adjacent link5, as the case maybe, which will have the effect of bringing theratchetteeth upon the inner faces of the several links into positiveengagement with the pipe, thus preventing all liability of the wrenchslipping upon the pipe and obtaining a firm hold thereon, the force ofwhich will be increased the further the handle l is vibrated. Bypivoting the inner ends of the links 3 at one side of the head andarranging the cogs 2 thereof in a straight series the handle-leveroperates in two directions to collapse the links and clamp a pipe. Thelinks 6 are drawn across IOO the head, and the handle by reason of itsstraight edge operates as a powerful lever to foroe the link 6 outwardtoward the link 4f, and a powerful grip is thus effected. By reason ofthe particular construction described, the manner in which the links arejointed t0- gether, and the thickness thereof with relation to the spacebetween the twin segmental plates 3 it will be seen that the wrench as awhole is adapted to be used in connection with pipes of various sizes,and is particularly adapted for pipes of relatively small diameter.

Having thus desoribed the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is-

A pipe-wrench comprising a hand-lever having a head beveled at oppositesides and provided with a straight outer transverse Y edge having aseries of oogs or teeth extending entirely across the head, a pair ofcurved link-plates 3 having smooth inner and outer edges arrangedparallel with eaoh other and pivoted at their inner ends to the saidhead at one end of a series of teeth, a curved link having a smoothouter edge and provided at its inner edge with ratohetteeth and pivotedat one end between the outer ends of the link-plates 3, and a series ofcurved links 6, pivotally connected together and with the link 4provided at their inner edges with ratohet-teeth and having` at theirouter edges @ogs or teeth to mesh with the oogs or teeth of the head,the latter being capable of drawing the links 6 across it and of forcingthem outward from the pivot of the head, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

Signed by me this 19th day of February, 1895.

W. S. GILMORE.

vVitnesse-s:

Roer. T. SMITH, J. W. CARTER.

